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Turn Dried-Out Markers into Watercolor Paints

Photo: Julie Finn/Crafting a Green World

Drawing with markers is a favorite activity of many kids, but figuring out how to recycle those markers once their ink has dried out can be a challenge. Some companies have marker recycling programs, but not all do.

Julie Finn of the website Crafting a Green World came up with a simple way to upcycle those old markers that will also give the kids a new art supply: watercolor paints.

It turns out dead markers still have plenty of ink in them, so if you disassemble the markers and gather a few other supplies including water and glass jars, you'll be able to extract the ink. Finn points out that any small containers you have around the house like spice bottles or pill bottles will do the trick for this project.

Photo: Julie Finn/Crafting a Green World

If you don't know where to start to disassemble your markers, don't fret. Finn explains how to pry the markers apart, as well as how to recycle their plastic components. In addition to reusing what might otherwise be wasted, this craft is also kid-friendly, so it's great for teaching kids about the importance of recycling.

Once you have your new paints, you can use them for fun things like coloring homemade play dough or making non-toxic spray paint, writes Finn.

To transform dried-out markers into watercolors yourself, head over to Crafting a Green World for a full set of instructions.